How to recover data from Infortrend EonStor GS 4012 NAS

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Infortrend also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

How can the number of drives in a NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 4012 device's RAID array impact data recovery and potential loss?

The number of drives in a NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 4012 device's RAID array can impact data recovery and potential loss in the following ways:

1. RAID Level: The number of drives determines the RAID level that can be implemented. Different RAID levels offer varying degrees of data redundancy and performance. For example, RAID 1 and RAID 10 provide mirroring, which means data is duplicated on multiple drives, increasing data redundancy and reducing the risk of data loss. On the other hand, RAID 5 and RAID 6 offer distributed parity, which allows data recovery even if one or two drives fail, respectively. Therefore, the choice of RAID level based on the number of drives affects the potential for data recovery and loss.
2. Fault Tolerance: The number of drives in a RAID array affects its fault tolerance. With more drives, the RAID array can withstand the failure of multiple drives simultaneously without losing data. For example, in a RAID 6 configuration, two drives can fail without data loss. However, if the number of drives is insufficient to support the desired level of fault tolerance, the failure of a single drive could result in data loss until the failed drive is replaced and the array is rebuilt.
3. Rebuilding Time: In the event of a drive failure, the RAID array needs to be rebuilt by redistributing data across the remaining drives. The time required for this process depends on the number of drives in the array. With more drives, the rebuild process can take longer. During this time, the array is vulnerable to further drive failures, which can lead to data loss. Therefore, a larger number of drives in the array increases the potential for data loss during the rebuilding process.
4. Performance Impact: The number of drives also affects the performance of the RAID array. More drives in the array generally result in improved read and write speeds. However, if the number of drives is too high, the performance gains may diminish due to increased latency and contention for system resources. Therefore, finding the right balance between performance and fault tolerance is crucial to minimize the risk of data loss.

In summary, the number of drives in a NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 4012 device's RAID array impacts data recovery and potential loss by influencing the choice of RAID level, fault tolerance, rebuilding time, and overall performance. It is essential to carefully consider these factors when configuring the RAID array to minimize the risk of data loss and maximize data recovery options.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS EonStor GS 4012 can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Infortrend EonStor GS 4012. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Infortrend

EonStor GS 4012 has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Infortrend EonStor GS 4012 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery